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The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O’Dell

The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O’Dell

 

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Title: The Shadowed Onyx (Diamond Estates, #3)

Author: Nicole O’Dell

Published By: Barbour Books (2012)

Synopsis:

Join dejected seventeen-year-old Joy Christianson on her journey to hope and healing as she leaves a dark world behind and moves into Diamond Estates, a home for troubled teens. This brand-new novel for teen girls will not only entertain, but also promises to capture your heart and challenge your faith. (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

This book, of all the Diamond Estates, is my favorite; it was written so beautifully, painfully, amazingly. One thing I can say about this book is it is definitely written party for an outreach; no one, after reading this, will ever be tempted to get into witchcraft. Nicole O’Dell portrays the whole ordeal in perfect matter; she writes fiction with such a real, haunting feel to it. On a different note, I love, love, loved the Christian outreach written in as well, the themes that eventually save our main character from destruction. I wanted to just cheer for Joy in her moment of revelation!

One thing I love about Nicole O’Dell’s books is, while they deal with deep and mature content, they always stay appropriate and non-violent. I loved all of her books, but this one was just written incredulously and made me sad, mad, and happy all at the same time: sad for Joy and her loss of her best friend; mad at Joy for her decision to turn to witchcraft; and happy that this is not my world, nor any of my friends or families’ worlds.

Negative Content/Notes:

Joy, our main character, gets involved in witchcraft, which is explained in detail, but not in the wrong light.

Overall:

I would recommend reading this series in order, with this being the third book, but realistically, it doesn’t truly matter. This book was simply amazing: harsh with reality, gentle with truth, and overall such strong Christian themes that you can’t—and shouldn’t—ignore. I would give this book 10 stars if I could.

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Recommended to: Teen girls 13+

Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington

Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington

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Title: Courage for Beginners

Author: Karen Harrington

Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2014)

Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Mysti Murphy wishes she were a character in a book. If her life were fictional, she’d magically know how to deal with the fact that her best friend, Anibal Gomez, has abandoned her in favor of being a “hipster.” She’d be able to take care of everyone when her dad has to spend time in the hospital. And she’d certainly be able to change her family’s secret.

Seventh grade is not turning out the way Mysti had planned. With the help of a hot-air balloon, her new friend Rama Khan, and a bright orange coat, can she find the courage to change? (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

 I think most people will enjoy this sweet story; there isn’t anything necessarily wrong about it. Just for me, I was looking for something better, a story where something actually happens. While it’s not my type of story, I think most people will enjoy it thoroughly.

In reality, Courage for Beginners is not a story about a girl who makes something happen; it is about a girl who gains the courage to decide to make something happen. And while I get the concept of the story, I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

There was nothing I directly disliked about this book, but on the same note, there was nothing I really loved, either. To me, the story was boring; absolutely nothing changed throughout the course of the book. The main character, Mysti, starts her story with her dad in the hospital, her mom being agoraphobic, and her best friend ignoring her. The story ends with her dad in the hospital, her mom agoraphobic, and her best friend ignoring her. Just… disappointing.  True, Mysti has decided to do something about it by the time you reach the last page. She has decided to change her story. But before we can find out how exactly she will do so, the book ends.

For good points: I have to love Karen Harrington’s creativity at 1) giving her character a name like Mysti, and 2) making Mysti a person who thinks she is legimately a character in a book (ha, ha) because that is exactly what she is. Mysti herself was lovable and determined. Her friend Rama was well portrayed of the role of an encouraging friend. I admired Mysti’s determination to help her family. Overall I did understand the whole story idea, that she is working to gain the courage to change her story; I just would have enjoyed it a bit more if there would have been included a section where she actually went through with it.

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Overall:

I feel bad giving this book such a bad review when it really isn’t a bad book, but I truly just did not enjoy it. 2.5 stars.

Rating: 2.5 / 5.0

Recommended to: Wouldn’t recommend. Ages 8+

The Whatever After Series by Sarah Mlynowski

The Whatever After Series by Sarah Mlynowski

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Title: Whatever After Series

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Published By: Scholastic (2012)

Synopsis: 

Abby and Jonah thought their life was normal. Then they move to Smithville. And discover they have a magic mirror in their basement. A magic mirror that transports them into fairy tales! At first, they’re excited. Until they accidentally start messing up the fairy tales. And they don’t know how to get home. Will the characters—and Abby and Jonah—get a happy ending?

 

 

 

Review:

There is only one way to describe Sarah Mlynowksi’s Whatever After series and that is: Hilarious!

I found this series, which is now going on its 11th book, hilarious and lovable. Abby’s voice as a ten-year-old is convincing and extremely realistic. While the writing may not have been the best, the voice sold it for me. Abby sounds exactly like your average ten-year-old, which, in my opinion, makes it even better and even funnier.

The situations they find themselves in, the things they do to mess up fairy tales (accidentally, of course), made me laugh and laugh. I love rewritten fairy tales and so far this is the best series I’ve encountered! I mean, seriously: They go into Snow White and stop her from eating the apple. Cinderella breaks her foot so the slipper won’t fit. Rapunzel’s long hair gets cut off so the prince can’t climb up. Ooops!

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Overall:

Hilarious! If you’re looking for a quick, fun, great read, Whatever After is for you. While definitely designed for younger readers, I still enjoyed them at 16. They’re just good books!

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Recommended to: Ages 8 and up!

The Cupcake Club by Sheryl & Carrie Berk

The Cupcake Club by Sheryl & Carrie Berk

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Title: The Cupcake Club Series

Authors: Sheryl & Carrie Berk

Published By: Sourcebooks (2012)

Synopsis from the first book:

Kylie will never survive fourth grade in her new school without friends. And starting a cupcake club seems the perfect way to meet other girls. But getting the club up and running is not easy- especially with trouble spelled M-e-r-e-d-i-t-h trying to ruin them. In taking on the class mean girl, Kylie and her new friends may have just bitten off more than they can chew. (Taken from Goodreads.)

 

Review:

The Cupcake Club Series by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk is a collection of short, sweet, and cute stories you won’t regret reading. I could easily hear Carrie’s nine-year-old voice in these stories, and yet it was written well enough that it could have been an sole adult work. Carrie and her mother have great talent and I’m glad I discovered their works.

The plots are structured, the characters are lovable, and the storylines fun and exciting. If I could use one word to describe this series, it would be “Fun!”  The problems that arise for these girls are problems, yes, but in the same sense just funny situations, as they are resolved easily and simply. Full of imagination and spunk, they were creative and funny, that even in non-baking crises, baked goods and treats were worked into it. I loved them when I first read them at age thirteen, so I can only imagine how much the six- to ten- age range must be all over these books!

Negative Content/Notes:

None.

Overall:

Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk did a great job in creating this adorable, fun, sweet series and I’ll be looking forward to the next addition.

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Recommended to: Ages 6-12 will probably like it best, but I’d say all ages can appreciate the cuteness of these stories!

Below by Meg McKinlay

Below by Meg McKinlay

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Title: Below

Author: Meg McKinlay

Published By: Candlewick Press (2011)

Synopsis:

 On the day Cassie was born, they drowned her town. The mayor flipped a lever and everyone cheered as Old Lower Grange was submerged beneath five thousand swimming pools’ worth of water. Now, twelve years later, Cassie feels drawn to the manmade lake and the mysteries it hides — and she’s not the only one. Her classmate Liam, who wears oversized swim trunks to cover the scars on his legs, joins Cassie in her daily swims across the off-limits side of the lake. As the summer heats up, the water drops lower and lower, offering them glimpses of the ghostly town and uncovering secrets one prominent town figure seems anxious to keep submerged. But like a swimmer who ventures too far from shore, Cassie realizes she can’t turn back. Can she bring their suspicions to light before it’s too late — and does she dare? (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

Fun-filled and mystery-loaded, Below was a interesting read. The summary and back cover were really intriguing, and the book definitely lived up to my expectations.

I enjoyed it; the one thing is, it was very vague and sometimes it took a long time to find out as the reader something Cassie discovered pages ago. However, all the mysteries are answered in the end—it just takes a bit of patience, to wait for the answers until the few last chapters.

Negative Content/Notes:

None I can remember.

Overall:

It was a good read. The writing was acceptable and I liked the author’s style. It wasn’t anything amazing, but was still enjoyable and entertaining.

Rating: 3.0 / 5.0

Recommended to: Eh…not sure how high I’d recommend it, but probably ages 10 and up.

 

Scenarios Series by Nicole O’Dell

Scenarios Series by Nicole O’Dell

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Title: The Scenarios Series (Truth or Dare, All That Glitters, Magna, Making Waves, High Stakes, Essence of Lilly)

 

Author: Nicole O’Dell

Published By: Barbour Books

Synopsis:

Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending? (Taken from Goodreads.)

Review: 

Nicole O’Dell’s Scenarios series are truly great books. Though it is one series, in each book there are new characters in new situations. The characters felt a little flat at times, but for the most part it wasn’t hard to love them.

One thing I really loved about the whole series was the Christian themes. It takes true talent to do a Christian book—if you do it wrong it can come off really cheesy—and I thought Nicole O’Dell did really well on this aspect. I really liked the way the main character always was (somewhat) willing to put church first, while still worrying about what their friends would think; they were true to the teenage Christian mindset/culture and I was able to relate to that. I enjoyed the way the main character was able to (in some situations) turn her friends to Christ and how praying was a regular thing for their families. I loved how the Christian message was written into the books as part of the story, but also as an outreach as well. And again like I’ve said, it’s hard to pull these kind of books off, but I think O’Dell did fine.

And, of course, I loved the two ending options. The scenarios the characters get themselves into are scary yet real and both endings are written naturally, as if there was no other ending. It was fun to read the two ways the character could have gone and see the results of both! Nobody can not like the ending because if a reader doesn’t like one ending there’s the other one 🙂

My personal favorite of these books was Truth or Dare, which was focused more around friendships and thereof was eaiser for me to relate to than the other stories about boyfriend drama. (Haha.) The other few books were really well done, too. Overall, the whole series is a definite 5-star rating and a series I’ll definitely reread again.

Negative Content:

No negative content. There is a lot of mature content though, as the author deals with real life teen struggles; however, it is all addressed in a wholesome way, and does not glorify the wrong things.

Overall: A clean, Christian read for girls, these books will have trouble reaching a secular audience, but I think they will and should do great among Christian readers as a story with characters with real struggles.

Rating: 5.0

Recommended to: 12 and up